Sunday, October 30, 2011

Just finished the inside part of Nellie's Needle Book by Anni Downs. It's from GDITC 2010 not 2009 like I said a couple of posts ago. So I'm not as far behind as I thought! ;)Only have to sew it together, do the scissor keep, and add the closures.Hope everyone had a good weekend.Kayly

Monday, October 24, 2011

I'm going to stitch along with the others in the 2012 SAL on the quilt in Anni Down's new book - Some Kind of Wonderful. I allowed myself to buy some creams and beiges and a couple of pieces of blue as I didn't have much of these in the stash. BUT I promised myself that every thing else has to come from stash! It was fun searching for just the right bits. I have pulled out more than I need just in case some don't end up fitting in colourwise.

Here is the project, all packed, ready and waiting for a few other things to be finished first.

One of which is this GDITC project from 2009. Only the centre to do then it just needs to be sewn together.

I finished this skirt on the weekend. I must remember to take a photo when I wear it out tomorrow night. It's a simple pattern that even I can do!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Heavens to Bettsy and I went to the Brisbane Craft Show on Wednesday. As usually we were there from near opening to the close. In fact H2B was still buying stuff as the stall holders were putting up their curtains and leaving!!!I, on the other hand, have to apologise to the stall holders for my poor buying effort. I kept thinking of all the things I had at home still untouched from other shows. I did manage to come away with these.....

For the first time, H2B and I saw the prize giving for Queensland Quilters Annual Quilt Show that is held in conjunction with the Craft Show. It was fabulous...so many talented people....a wide range of styles and colours. The Qld Quilters web site has a gallery of winners and place-getters. You can click on each one for a bigger picture. Their site will give you a better look at them than the photos I took.Except this one.... My old pointer finger might help to give you an idea of just how small the machine quilting is on this Pam Hill winner.

Also check out the pictorial winner (I think it also won best wall hanging). I don't think photos do it justice. It is amazing. Really it is a great painting using fabric not paint.

Must go. I'm trying to get something finished for OPAM. Can't have another empty month!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

With a friend's GPS and the AA road map book of England, we were able to drive ourselves around some very beautiful parts of England without getting too lost.I was able to see the things I learnt about at school.

Anyone would think we ate our way around England. My waistline is certainly telling me we did!The black stuff in the above photo, taken at Jamie Oliver's Italian Restaurant in Oxford, is squid ink risotto - delicious my husband said.We enjoyed the afternoon tea in the top photo in Windsor at the Crooked House.

We were lucky to be able to stay in a 17th century National Trust cottage at Stouton, the home of Stourhead Gardens and House. This is an absolutely stunning garden. At the house, we took a 'cellars to attic' tour for a unique view of backstairs life in a large country house.

Hadrian's Wall has always fascinated me. Although it is a treasured part of Britain's history, they are not precious about it. We were able to touch it, hug it, sit on it and walk all over it. Seeing it was very much on my to-do list.Something different was the pencil museum at Keswick in the Lake District. Yes I know I find enjoyment in some odd things at time, but it really was interesting to see how pencils are made.

The famous white cliffs of Dover did not disappoint.

We took many more photographs. They will be used to keep our memories alive of a wonderful trip. DH is currently putting together one of those computer generated photo albums. But don't worry, I won't bore you with any more.

We hope to get back one day. Now isn't there a big Lotto draw next Saturday; must get my entry in!!!!!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

That was a quick but delicious pasta meal. There was a Jan Power's Farmer's Market today at the Powerhouse. So we had fresh pasta, yummy heritage tomatoes, olives, hot sausage and baby octopus.Several years ago, we went to the old Sydney Observatory. We found it fascinating, so a visit to the Greenwich Observatory became a must. Here's hubbie with one foot in the East and one in the West.St James' Park was an oasis in the middle of London - peaceful, green.

Went shopping at Harrods, of course. It turned out my perfume was cheaper at Harrods, than duty free!The one breakfast we didn't eat at the bed-sit was spent at 'Fifteen' - Jamie Oliver's restaurant. It's the restaurant he set up to train homeless/disadvantaged youth. Our waitress told us the 10th group had just gone through.

We had nearly a week in London. We will have to go back as there is still so much to see.This is the little car we hired for the remaining 2 weeks of our holiday, but that's for another post. The dishes are calling for their wash.Take care,Kayly

Well, we have been home a week after having enjoyed a 3 week holiday to England. The flight over was way better than the one home. I was able sleep and arrive in London ready to hit the sights. We flew over Tibet and Europe in daylight which was an extra treat. Yes, it was my first trip to England, so I was a tad excited.We were typical tourists trying see as much as we could -tick all the boxes, as my husband said.

This is where we stayed. Cartwright Gardens in Bloomsbury contains hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. We stayed in Studios2Let. I can recommend it. The only problem was the 58 steps up to our bed sit, no lift. See the windows at the very top. Two of them were ours. We had a kitchen, and ate breakfast there, but the area around us had heaps of cafes and pubs so we ate out every night. Transport was a breeze with 2 Underground stations nearby.

The hop-on hop-off bus was an excellent way to get our bearings.

A highlight was a visit to Buckingham Palace - the Palace, the Queen's Gallery and The Mews. It was a good day. The organisers have it all down pat. We were even able to get lunch, sitting on the back terrace looking over the garden. Check out the coffee art.

There were so many 'old' places. We were a bit awe stuck. Here's some contrast with the new architecture.

I had fun looking for all the typical British icons - these phone boxes and the red double decker buses for example.

Blogger won't let me put up any more photos, so I'll do another post after I cook dinner.

Friday, October 7, 2011

I'll be blogging about it as soon as I can edit my photos. I've just realised we (read - my personal IT specialist) have not transferred over the photo editing programme, I use, to my new laptop.

Still I can show you these.I was lucky enough to win the August OPAM draw. This prettily wrapped parcel arrived at start of the week. Notebooks are always needed here and the cute little sharpie has already been put to use. The book from Art to Heart contains great projects.

BIG THANK YOU TO KRIS AND PEG FOR RUNNING THIS FUN AND MOTIVATING GROUP!

The only downside to my holiday was a 3 week craft drought - no stitching and I only saw 2 wool shops and no quilt shops! So I was glad to get back Sisters of Stitch this week for a good dose of craft talk and to do some work on my woolly needle book.

About Me

Hi! I'm the lucky wife of a wonderful man, mum of a 26 year old son and grandmother of 2 cuties. I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. I dabble in a number of crafts including patchwork, crochet and embroidery. I love my garden and I even do the housework occasionally.